and which lie half-way between Genoa, Piacenza, and Parma. From Centenaro, Carlo Cavanna (1873–1925), left to Ethiopia, settling in Eritrea in 1888, at a very young age. He was one of the earliest pioneers, in search of prosperity, initially as an agriculturalist with an experimental farm at Godofelassi, just east of Adi Ugri, and south of Asmara. During the early part of the 20th century, and Italy's colonial administration of Eritrea, he directed the construction of the first railway line in Eritrea, and later established a citrus farm at Ghinda, an important station on the railway. His brother Andrea (1876–1950) remained in Centenaro and is one of several buried in the large Cavanna Mausoleum in Centenaro. Carlo had three children. One took over the Ghinda estate, sold it, and returned to Italy, while the other two and their families left Eritrea during Ethiopian imperial rule, and migrated to Sudan after World War II, and later returned to Europe. Descendants for this branch of family members are found today in Pianello Val Tidone, Centenaro, Genoa, Livorno, Novi Ligure, Pisa, Rome, and other parts of Italy, and in England, Germany, and Switzerland. Many other Cavannas emigrated from Italy to Britain, France, Buenos Aires in Argentina, Montevideo in Uruguay and to New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania in the USA. Notable contemporary members of the Cavanna family Carlo Cavanna, (1873–1925), Italian agricultural pioneer and first director of railway in Eritrea. Don Giuseppe Cavanna, (died 1902), Italian, founder and director of Il Resegone, a Catholic periodical. Elise Cavanna, (1902–1963), late American actress. Nicola Cavanna, (1916–1980), Italian, late Bishop of Rieti and of Asti . François Cavanna, (1923-2014), French author and novelist. Bernard Cavanna, French composer and musical director. D. Cavanna, Italian geophysicist. J. M. Valdés Cavanna, Spanish general. Arturo Cavanna, Recognized Spanish professor and researcher on technology and education. Stefano Cavanna, Member of the Italian High Council of Judiciary , elected by the Italian Parliament in June 2018,. References Libro d'Oro della Nobiltà di Genova, by Angelo M. G. Scorza, Genoa, 1 October 1920; re-published by Orsini de Marzo, 2004 (). Civil registry records for Cassimoreno and Centenaro in the Comune di Ferriere, Piacenza, Italy Italian military archives for Eritrea, 1930-1945 [Cavanna entries] Roman Catholic diocesan records for Asmara (Eritrea), and Khartoum (Sudan) [Cavanna entries] External links Castel Gazzo in Novi Ligure Cavanna and Eritrea in late 19th century Don Giuseppe Cavanna and Il